Offshore staff
LONDON – Ophir Energy has signed exploration and production-sharing contracts for two ultra-deepwater blocks offshore Gabon.
A3 and A4 are outboard of the company’s existing acreage in the North Gabon basin. Block A3, to be named the Nkouere PSC, covers 675 sq km (261 sq mi) while block A4 – the Nkawa PSC – extends more than 2,085 sq km (805 sq mi).
In both cases water depths vary from 2,000-2,500 m (6,562-8,202 ft). Ophir has a 100% interest, although the Gabonese state has the right to back into 20% of the PSCs in the event of commercial discoveries.
Ophir says analysis of itsNorth Gabon drilling campaign earlier this year has enhanced the prospectivity of the basin’s deepwater distal margin, in particular the Cretaceous section where a proven oil-prone marine source rock is overlain by a series of deepwater coarse sands.
This represents a petroleum system with the potential for large stratigraphic and structural traps, the company adds.
Ophir is acquiring 8,600 sq km (3,320 sq mi) of3D seismic over the play in its existing blocks, which will be expanded by a further 2,300 sq km (888 sq mi) to cover the two PSC areas.
10/24/2014
